All posts for the month February, 2013
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 21, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/21/todays-earworm-324/
An Interesting Question
A few months a go, the federal courts found that the state of Illinois has been acting unconstitutionally when it gives its citizens no legal manner in which to carry a firearm outside of their homes. Illinois is the only state with no provisions for legal carry. The court gave the state 180 days to pass a law that regulates this constitutionally protected behavior, and apparently the state legislature has been arguing how many dead voters can dance on the head of a pin ever since. In other words, business as usual seems to be happening in Springfield.
Something novel happened the other day, though.
But Paul Castiglione, policy director for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, told lawmakers there is no need for a new law.
Did y’all get that? A lawyer who represents one of the largest cities in the country believes that only the courts of a state have the authority to rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by that state’s legislature. I’m guessing things like Brown v. Board of Education, or maybe Roe v. Wade, or maybe McDonald v. Chicago mean nothing to him. I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure we settled the supremacy of the federal Constitution over a century ago.
But this raises a good point. Let’s say that Chicago ignores the courts on this issue, whether or not the legislature passes a new law. People found carrying a gun in Cook County are arrested and possibly even imprisoned. The local government continues its obstinacy, defying the federal courts.
What recourse do those who are harmed by this have?
Do you think the Holder Justice Department is going to lift a finger to file a civil rights complaint? Do you think that Obama and his minions will enforce contempt citations drawn up by the federal courts if they are against his most intimate political allies and in relation to gun rights?
What happens to our system of Constitutional jurisprudence when those with powerful friends defy it and those charged with executing its laws ignore it?
This is, to me, a chilling prospect. A precedent of ignoring the courts’ interpretations of the Constitution and, by so doing, the Constitution itself, with no repercussions will lead to others ignoring it, and eventually its rending and destruction. I know that sounds melodramatic, but to me, it’s true. Our system is not based on territory, or blood, or culture, but on trust. We must trust that the Constitution is the overarching law of the land, and that the authority of the Judiciary will be enforced by the Executive. Anything else will be a boost of speed in a death spiral that we cannot survive as a republic.
I pray that calmer minds prevail in Illinois. Provoking a Constitutional crisis is a dangerous thing, and I fear that even should those who hold the Constitution dear prevail, we will not survive the damage it causes.
Posted by daddybear71 on February 20, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/20/an-interesting-question/
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 20, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/20/todays-earworm-323/
Thoughts on the Day
- Not sure what evolutionary niche influenza virus sits in, but I hope it’s a damn uncomfortable one.
- When you can’t taste anything, canned chicken soup is nothing but a mouthful of lukewarm grease.
- For once I got to sleep 16 hours straight, but I had fever dreams about high school all night long.
- There is no justice.
- Doctor says I should spend the entire week in bed. We’ll see how this goes.
- One of the few benefits of being locked away from the family so I don’t infect them is that I can watch some of the movies I normally can’t.
- Falling asleep while watching “Greg the Bunny” makes for some really cool dreams.
- For some reason Girlie Bear’s geography class spent today talking about my hometown in North Dakota.
- Who knew Berthold was such an interesting place?
- Irish Woman appears to have gotten her bedside manner from Nurse Ratched.
- Actually, that’s probably the best way to be when I’m not feeling well. I’m not exactly a cooperative patient, and a sharp word here and there prods me into necessary action.
- Extra spicy chicken pad thai seems to be what it takes to break through to my taste buds.
- ZZZZZZZ
Posted by daddybear71 on February 19, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/19/thoughts-on-the-day-97/
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 19, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/19/todays-earworm-322/
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 18, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/18/todays-earworm-321/
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 17, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/17/todays-earworm-320/
Oh my aching back
Here is the list of projects Irish Woman and I will be working on over the next year or so:
Winter 2013
- Finish the work in the bathroom
- Paint our bedroom
- Stretch goal – Re-do trim on built-ins in living room and dining room and paint living room/dining room
Spring 2013
- Finish trim work and painting on the side porch
- Dig out and build three new raised garden beds
- Put up picket fence along eastern property line, complete with two gates big enough for a lawn mower
- Extend the picket fence along our western property line so as to enclose the entire back yard and put in a vehicle sized gate
- Take out old fence line that currently bisects our back yard. Salvage scrap wood for outdoor projects.
- Put in three new fruit trees
- Plant vegetable garden
- Harvest strawberries and process (canning, drying, freezing)
- Lay in firewood for next winter
- Stretch goal – Build additional firewood storage
- Stretch goal – Build double doors for existing firewood storage
Summer 2013
- Maintain and harvest from vegetable garden, cherries, apples, nectarines, and grapes, along with produce purchased from you-pick-it and farmers markets
- Process said produce (canning, drying, freezing)
- Replace floor in kitchen
- Build shelving and cabinets around new location of refrigerator
- Move refrigerator across the kitchen.
- Build new counter and shelving/cabinets in old location of refrigerator
- Remove all old countertops in kitchen and replace with either solid surface or tile (leaning toward tile)
- Build new shelving along top of two walls in kitchen
- Put in new backsplash above countertop and stove
- Put in new cabinetry to the side of the stove
- Make strong enough to hold 100 pounds of potatoes, 50 pounds of onions, and all of our cast iron pots and pans
- Paint kitchen walls and ceiling.
- Stretch goal – Put in new sink in kitchen, depending on budget
Fall 2013
- Replace basement door
- Build additional outdoor storage units
- Stretch goal – Reskin concrete back porch in same manner as side porch
- Stretch goal – Reskin front porch step in the same manner as side porch
- Stretch goal – Replace basement windows
- Stretch goal – Refinish corrugated steel roofs on outbuildings
Winter 2013
- Tear out existing kitchen cabinets and either replace or refinish them
- Rip out soffits in kitchen and replace with new cabinets or shelves
- Add to storage capabilities in basement.
- Add built-in book shelves and desk in the basement office
- Stretch goal – Redo or replace kitchen pantry
- Stretch goal – Re-do hearth around fireplace
- Stretch goal – Build new mantle for fireplace
In addition, we have agreed to the following goals of things to have done in the next five years:
- Rip down and replace retaining walls in back yard
- Refinish all hardwood floors in the house
- I may hire out on this one. We did the dining room and living room a few years ago, it was a bloody mess to do and I screwed it up badly.
- Add a bathroom in the basement
- Something like this will be necessary
- Replumb the house and replace the 60-year-old copper piping
- Refinish/reconfigure basement
- Screen in side porch
- Depending on whether or not Girlie Bear goes away to college, refinish her room and move Boo into it
- Return Boo’s room to being an office
I’m not saying we’ll get all of these done, or even most of them. Budgets in funds, time, and talent will be the limiting factor. But it looks like no matter what, we’re going to be very busy.
Posted by daddybear71 on February 17, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/17/oh-my-aching-back/
Overheard in the Living Room
Me, cheering on Boo as he plays Lego Star Wars as a treat – Uh-oh, you opened the door! Get those robots!
Boo, pausing the game and looking at me very seriously – Daddy, those are droids, not robots. Say it with me – d-r-o-i-d-s. drah drah droids.
I’ve never been so proud.
Posted by daddybear71 on February 17, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/17/overheard-in-the-living-room-18/
Today’s Earworm
Posted by daddybear71 on February 15, 2013
https://daddybearsden.com/2013/02/15/todays-earworm-319/







